Katharine Van Tuyl and Double J Sunshine sealed their win in the Waipa Home of Champions CIC3* with a stunning clear round at the Kihikihi International Horse Trial this afternoon.
The two, who this year also showjumped to grand prix level, were nearly 10 penalty points clear of the second-placed Dannie Lodder (Auckland) aboard Tomahawk II, with Donna Edwards-Smith (Matangi) and Mr Hokey Pokey moving back up the leaderboard to take third place.
Van Tuyl, who only recently gave up full time riding to get a ‘proper job’ was over the moon with her win, which came a decade after she last competed at Kihikihi.
She was the only rider to go clear over the Gerrit Beker-designed showjumping course, albeit garnering two time faults. Rails fell freely through the seven combinations who started the final of the three disciplines at the event.
But Van Tuyl was as cool as a cucumber as she guided her chestnut to victory.
“I was getting jumped right out of the saddle out there,” said the 36-year-old. “He was just jumping bigger and bigger. He was just awesome.”
In the warm-up, Double J Sunshine had felt a little tired but grew “springs on his feet” when he entered the arena.
“This is a class I have always wanted to win but everything gets sold, so this is just fantastic,” said Van Tuyl. “I knew it would be a massive ask for him – he is only eight. I have had some really cool horses over the years but this one is the bet . . . he has so much scope.”
She is now considering a start at the 4* in Adelaide in November.
Lodder had two rails down – one for her and the other for the horse – and picked up two time faults, but was very happy to take second place.
“I got a little lost in the moment after the treble and forgot that (fence) six came after five,” she said.
Edwards-Smith was rapt to come up onto the podium. She and her palomino had been leading after the dressage, but a conservative cross country saw her slip to fifth. She had a fall in the CIC2* cross country, but still rode Mr Hokey Pokey in the 3*.
For the showjumping, she put boots on the horse making for a rather challenging ride which saw them take a rail and add a single time fault to their tally.
“I am disappointed how I rode but so happy with him,” she said. “He is such a sweet horse.”
Samantha Felton (Matangi) and Ricker Ridge Pico Boo held on to their overnight lead to take out the AON Insurance CIC2* class, despite dropping a rail in the showjumping.
The 24-year-old said she focused on each jump as it came, rather than the whole course.
“When I finished I wasn’t even sure if I had won,” she said. “It has been a big journey with Pico Boo – he has been injured a few times, and then reinjured himself during rehabilitation and had only had a handful of starts before this.
“A lot of blood, sweat and tears have gone into him. It is lovely to have it all come together and have the horse we love back in form.”
Felton won the same class two years ago aboard Ricker Ridge Escada, on whom she today placed sixth in the CIC3*.
Kimberley Rear (Hamilton) and Delta Legacy moved up from sixth to second with Megan Finlayson (Kerikeri) and Greensleeves taking third spot. Sarah Young (Tokoroa) and SS Galaxy who yesterday finished in second spot after the cross country, withdrew from the showjumping.
Also making an appearance on the final day was former world number one eventer Andrew Nicholson’s horse Quimbo, who has semi-retired to New Zealand. The horse, who in 2013 won the Rolex Kentucky CCI4*, in 2012 Boekelo CCIO3* and CIC3* at Blenheim, among many other events, flew ‘home’ in December to live with Charlie Sellar – daughter of Quimbo’s owner Libby.
It was the 20th birthday for the Kihikihi International Horse Trial and tributes were paid to those who had worked so hard to create an award-winning event that continued to garner praise from so many.